Card index



Aug. 23, 1932. A. F. HUNT 1,873,841

CARD INDEX Filed Nov. 5, 1930 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 ALLAN r. HUNT, or BunLrnGAiviE; CALIFORNIA cAnn INDEX Application filed November 3, 1930. SeriaLNo. 493,002.

This invention relates to an index adaptedto be used in conjunction with-a telephone or the like or in other situations where a card index for ready reference may be desired. 5 It is recognized that. there are various forms of indexes for. telephone numbers,

street addresses and the like, now in use, 7 such as books with indexed edges and. ordinary file cards arranged in side by side relation, but these generally, are inconvenient tohandle; are requently inaccessiblewhen reference thereto is desired or where bound in book form have a tendency to shut from spring action of the binding just at. the time it is desired that the index should v remain open for reference. I

While this invention may be utilized for other purposes, it is desirable and illustrated herein with reference to its use for telephone numbers. 1 :f Frequently, a telephone numberv is called or dialed and there is a delay in making connection with the number called, or the central operator asks for a repeat number or aredialing, and in the meantime the ordinary type of index has closed or thetelephone number called has been forgotten. Some of these index devices are difficult to operate with one hand,-especially when a .39 party finds it necessary to hold the telephone instrument in one hand, or to' hold a pencil to write down a message. The primary ob'ect of this invention is .to provide an index which is conveniently arranged for instantaneous reference wand which may be, if desired, secured to the mouth-piece of the telephone of the well known vertical type or mounted on astandard or other supporting member in connection with the French type of telephone wherein both earpiece and mou'thjpiece are combined in a single structure.

A further object is to provide an index comprising a series of index cards pivoted on a frame and having tabs bearing one-or more reference characters indicating the subject-matter appearing on the :respective cards; to provide for limiting the extent ztO which said cards may be removed from the index; to provide a guide for :each'card' so that various changes in the form,

thatiit will resume its proper placein the I index 'after being used; to provide a frame within which said index may be mounted and to improve, generally,;upon the present type of devices herein described.

;With the above mentioned and other ob.-. ects in'view, the :lIH BDtiOII COHSlSt S in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the ac companying drawingand pointed out in the cla ms hereto appended; it being understood proportion, size and mlnor details of construction within the scopeof theclaims may be resortedfto without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

To more clearly comprehend the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawing, wherein: V a

Fig. l is a frontelevati on of and indexwith one card'raised. v, Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing a method of.se' curing the index to a telephone transm-itter, which latter is shown in dotted lines.

i-g. 3 is. a section-al view. taken on lines 83 of Fig. 1, with a telephone mouth-piece shown in dotted lines; F 4 is a side elevation of the index adapts ed to a French type telephone, smokingstand, desk or other base support. Referring more particularly to the drawthe frame ing,,wherein like characters of reference deslet. Formed on the outer edge of the pe-m riphery of the rear plate 11 are ,means to attach the frame to the transmitter of a well known type of-telephone, preferably consisting of clips. 15 which are desired to be of spring metal so that the index may be readily placed 'on or removed from its mou-nting. These clips are made to fittightly over the bead 16 which is. .usually provided on the forward face of the transmitter 17. V V

For use with the type of telephone shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3, an opening 18 is provided in the center of they rear plate 11 of such diameter as to allow only the threaded por tion 19 of the mouth piece 20 to pass therethrough; thereby not only will the index be supported by the clips 15 but also by the mouth piece which is removably threaded into the transmitter housing.

The front plate 12 is provided with a centrally disposed opening therein, axially aligned with the opening 18 to allow the rear portion of the mouth piece 20 to pass therethrough. It is preferred that a tight fit shall be made between the frame members 11 and 12 and the telephone transmitter and mouth piece to firmly position the index.

Pivotally mounted in side by side onav suitable mounting member, such as screws 13f and its bushing 14: are a series of index cards 22, preferably all pivoting on the same bushing. These cards are provided on the outer perimetric edge with projecting portions or tabs 23 which provide space for one or more reference characters indicating the subject matter on the particular card, and in the illustration of the preferred exemplification are shown as letters of the alphabet, indicating the first letter of the names of parties whose telephone numbers or addresses appear on that card. I I

' The tabs 23 are preferably so formed that one of their projecting edges is of greater length than the other, as at 23, so that when the'tabs are manually manipulated, usually by a finger of the hand of the'operator, the next adjoining tab will not be caught by the finger, and thus pull out two cards.

It is also desired that the tabs shall overlap on adjoining-edges, as shown at 23 as this furnishes a reinforcement to the tabs and prevents them from becoming bent by use, so as to interfere with their resuming their proper place in the index after being referred to.

When not in use, the cards are normally in side by side relation within the frame 10, the peripheral edge of each card substantially in transverse alignment with the periphery of the frame and the index tabs extending radially therebeyond.

A stop member 24 is provided transversely athwart the frame adjacent the pivotal mounting of the cards on the bushing of screw 13, and this portion of each card is so arranged that a portion of the card 25 will contact this stop member and thus limit the outward pivotal movement of the card.

In the adaptation herein illustrated, a guide member or finger 26 is provided for each card which is of sufiicient length that it remains within the perimeter of the card series when the card is pivotally moved radially outward, as best shown in Fig. 1, this finger providing a guiding means whereby each card is returned to its proper place in the series. When used with the type of telephone illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the central portion of the card is cut away, as at 27 somewhat in relation place within the series by ogee form, so as to provide for the insertion of the telephone mouth piece to be inserted through the openings 18 and 21. This form of cut out is not essential when the index is used with a French type of telephone, or in other cases where it is not necessary to provide an'opening centrally through the cards. Nevertheless, this form is preferred in all cases, since it permits of standardization in manufacture, serves to more evenly balance the card on its pivot when it is in its outward operative position, as shown on the card EF in Fig. 1, so that it does not fall back into gravitation of its own weight, and this form answers every practical purpose of a guide means which would be provided by a card in which the central cut out was not made. Each card of the series is provided with a portion 28 inset from its periphery which rest in transverse alignment on the bushing of screw 13 when the cards are normaliy at rest within the frame.

In Fig. 1,-the cards 22 and frame 10 are shown mounted on a vertical standard 29 mounted on the base member 30 of a French type telephone, in which case the means for mounting the index on the standard may be of any suitable well known type, such as screw 31 passing through the upper end of the standard and threadedly received in socket 32 on the frame. Obviously, this type of standard could be adapted for attachment to a smoking stand, desk, or other convenient base support.

The cards may be adapted by any suitable means to be removed so that they may be replaced byv new cards upon becoming mutilated or for the. purpose of adding new data thereon, or for the insertion of a duplicate card when one card is filled with data, as, for example, a duplicate EF card may be inserted next abutting the EF card shown in Fig. 1, and may be given a divisional index character such as EF This removability is preferably accomplished by means of a slot 33 extending from the peripheral edge of card 22 inwardly into the bodyof the card, so that the end of slot is offset from a radial center point .35 indicated by BC in Fig. 1, which point neednot in fact be a part of the card. See Fig. 1.) The slot is provided with edges having an ogee curve, as at 34:, the slot terminating at the portion of the card mounted on the pivotal bearing 13?.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is 1. An index comprising a series of cards removably and pivotally mounted in side by side relation, and each having an index tab mounted on the respective peripheries thereof, means whereby the pivotal movement of said cards may be stopped in either direction, the index tabs on said cards each having one radial edge other radial edge. I

2. A device of the character described, comprising a bearing member, .a plurality of cards each having an index tax extending from the peripheral edge thereof, said cards being arranged in a series in side by side relation and having pivotal bearing in common on said bearing member, a stop member adapted to align said cards in side by side relation when normally at rest in said series, a second stop member adapted to limit the pivotal movement of said cards outward from I the body of the series, each of said cards being provided with a guide portion which remains within the series when the respective card is moved pivotally outward from the series, said guide portion being spaced from the portion mounted on said bearing.

3. An index comprising a plurality of cards disposed in side by side relation and each having an index tab mounted on its periphery, a common bearing member on which said cards have pivotal mounting, a stop member adapted'to align said cards in side by side relation when normally at rest in series, and a second stop member adapted to limit the outward movement of said cards on said bearing member, said peripheral tabs being relatively arranged so as to form an arcuate series and being provided with a portion of the outward peripheral edge extending beyond the adj acent portion of the peripheral edge of the tab of a next adjoining card.

4. An indexcomprising a frame having spaced apart faces, a bearing mounted be- 7 tween said faces, a series of cards mounted pivotally in common in facial side by side re lation on said bearing, each of said cards having an index tab mounted on its periphery, said cards being provided with guide portions to align the path of said cards in pivotal movement in the series, and means to limit the pivotal movement of said cards in either direction.

In testimony whereof I have alfixed my signature.

ALLAN F. HUNT.

of greater length than its 

